Caitlin Clark is steppinginto MVP-esque territory to start off her injury comeback. With 21 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds against Seattle,  she had her 12th 20-10 game, which is the most in league history. She is averaging 24.3 points, 9.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds through four games. Yet, the criticism continues to follow Clark, as Colin Cowherd has questioned Clark’s ability to win.

Clark’s lack of titles over her basketball career has been a long-standing critique of her. She reached back-to-back National Championship games but failed to win. Clark has no titles in her highschool career as well. She has always been shattering individual records but team success has been hard to come by. And that is the exact point Colin Cowherd seems to be touching on. 

“Rookie sensation, year two, last year, she’s hurt. Year three, okay, her stats are great again. When is she gonna start winning at the next level? She has not won a playoff series yet. And so, my take is, she has her [Scottie] Pippen. Kelsey Mitchell was a player that got some MVP votes. This is not hating on Caitlin Clark. But the stage of ‘Wow, who’s the new kid?’ I’m done with that,” Cowherd said on “The Herd.”

Clark has always been compared with Jordan when it comes to impact on and off the court. He was the one who took the NBA to the next level and Clark is doing the same. According to Cowherd, while Clark is there with Jordan off the court, her true legacy will be formed by winning at the highest level rather than just entertaining the fans with her logo threes. 

“This is great. I see the stats. She shoots from a long way away from the basket. That is awesome. But there are stages to greatness. And I have always felt [that] her game is Steph [Curry]. I think she has a chance to be [Michael] Jordan-esque, which is multiple championships if she can get the right coach and the right running mate,” he added. Cowherd also set clear expectations for year for Clark. 

“But she hasn’t even won a playoff game, not a series. Now, again: First year, bad team. Last year, they built it around her, she was hurt, a little bit better team. This team should buy for the championship. If she is what I think she is. If not, [they should] get very, very close,” he said. Naturally, the Fever fandom was not happy with this criticism, as they have fired back at Cowherd. 

Fever Fans Tear Into Colin Cowherd Over Caitlin Clark’s Michael Jordan Comparison

“Let’s see… 1st year, being throttled and adjusting. 2nd year, injured and pretty much out for the season. This being her 3rd and only 3 games in. “When is she going to start winning at the next level”?… lol. @colincowherd @TheHerd, this might just be as stupid as it gets. Lol” wrote a fan. “Year 1: turned a 13-27 franchise into a playoff team. Year 2: injured,” pointed out another

Most of the WNBA rookies, including Clark, spend their seasons adjusting to the pace and physicality of the league.  Yet, Clark still averaged 19.2 points,8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds while making the All-Star and All-WNBA first teams. She led the Fever to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. 

The second year was filled with chronic soft tissue injuries she had little control over and the third year has started with a bang. So, according to the fans, it might be too early to question Clark’s ability to win and induce the Michael Jordan comparisons. 

“I just don’t understand why she has to be forced to be Jordan lol. Why can’t she just naturally develop? How tf are the Fever supposed to beat the Liberty, Lynx, or Aces in a playoff series? I mean, I guess it’s scientifically possible, are we expecting that?” commented a fan. The off-court impact and the Caitlin Clark effect are eerily similar to what Jordan did. That is the central reason why she is always compared with the legend when it comes to on-court performance. 

Despite the narrative, Clark’s path is her own. She can’t be expected to mirror one of the greatest basketball players of all time from the word go. If she does, then it’s another story.

“Yeah, because Kelsey plays defense and contributes in ways Pippen did.. that’s so disrespectful to Pippen. Also Jordan wasn’t winning in year 2 or 3. This team doesn’t compare with the top teams,” wrote another fan. Jordan’s first three years were spent in losing records and first-round exits. So, even he himself was in a similar position to where Clark is right now. And many think the management has failed to put together a competing team for Clark.

“Tell that to their coach & @IndianaFever  management. They keep on hiring guards! you dumb head!” wrote a fan. The Fever’s guard-heavy rotation received a reality check against the Mystics when Aliyah Boston got injured and they were left with no direct replacement. The lack of size in this team concerns many, especially with Boston out. If a young team like the Mystics dominated their front court, more experienced teams would leave the Fever in the trenches unless they found a way around it.